Portable auger lift cubed ice dispenser

ABSTRACT

A portable, low center of gravity ice dispenser for automatically dispensing predetermined portions of cubed, cracked or crushed ice is described, including an ice bin supplied with the ice to be dispensed and an ice elevating mechanism in the form of an auger having an ice feeder disc at its lower end and an auger tube within which the auger turns for elevating the ice. The auger is driven from the top by an electrical drive means, and is mechanically connected at its lower end to agitator means for feeding ice from the bin to the auger disc. The augerelevating mechanism and the agitator mechanism are readily disassembled for cleaning.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee PORTABLE AUGER LIFT CUBED ICE DISPENSER l2 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1926 Baldner 4/1939 Crothers ff- 7 Q 3,144,965 8/1964 Buno'riefl.' Z22/240x 3,211,338 10/1965 weiletai zzz/413x 3,257,010 6/1966 Fick1eeta1..... 19a/213x 3,268,121 8/1966 waureral... zzz/232x 3,417,903 12/1968 Gallen 222/238 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, .l r Assistant Examiner-.lohn J. Love Attorney-Ernest H. Schmidt ABSTRACT: A portable, low center of gravity ice dispenser for automatically dispensing predetermined portions of cubed, cracked or crushed ice is described, including an ice bin supplied with the ice to be dispensed and an ice elevating mechanism in the form of an auger having an ice feeder disc at its lower end and an auger tube within which the auger turns for elevating the ice. The auger is driven from the top by an electrical drive means, and is mechanically connected at its lower end to agitator means for feeding ice from the bin to the auger disc. The auger-elevating mechanism and the agitator mechanism are readily disassembled for cleaning.

EORGE F?. SHELLEY FOBET J .SHELLYEY dl?. ARTHUR B. D/XO/U BRUCE HOUSE.

MWSZLANA HTTORNEX PArENrEnsePzemn 3308786 SHEET u 0F 4 /A/VE/VTOR GEORGE l?. SHELLEY ROBERT d. SHE1 EY JR. HRW/w? B. D/xo/u 5X2 KHz/FE Hows; M

I HTTOR'NEX PORTABLE AUGER LIF'I` CUBED ICE DISPENSER This invention relates to ice-dispensing equipment and is directed particularly to an improved automatic cubed, crushed or cracked ice-dispensing unit for commercial use such as in dining areas, food-serving lines, waitress stations, bars, hotels, hospitals, and the like places where large or small portions of such ice are required for cooling drinking water or beverages.

Devices for automatically dispensing small or large quantities of cubed, cracked or crushed ice from a prefilled ice bin or the like are known. Such devices as have heretofore been devised, however, are deficient in many respects, principally in that they are difficult, if not impossible, to disassemble for cleaning properly, and in that they become easily jammed and therefore inoperative if the size or shape of the ice fragments or cubes is not substantially uniform, or if temperature conditions within the ice bin results in so-called bridging into ice masses, and in that they are gravity fed from comparatively high ice bins, resulting in high center of gravity, and consequent poor adaptation to portability.

It is, accordingly, the principal object of this invention to provide an automatic cubed, cracked or crushed ice dispenser which obviates the above-described deficiencies.

It is another important object of this invention to provide an ice dispenser of the character described that is not only easy to disassemble for cleaning, but wherein the parts and surface areas coming into contact with the contained and dispensed ice during use of the device are, for the most part, removable and smooth surfaced for easy cleaning, sanitizing and sterilization where necessary. This is especially important in hospitals and the like institutions where special care must be taken to eliminate all possible sources of bacterial infection.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an ice dispenser of the character described which will be fully automatic in dispensing predetermined portions of ice into a glass pitcher or the like container without the necessity of touching the ice or the machine by hand, thereby keeping the ice in as pure condition as when supplied to the unit.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide an automatic, portion-controllable ice dispenser of the character described which is well suited either to portable or stationary usage, and which comprises an insulated ice bin, ice-elevating mechanism in the form of an auger having a bottom ice feeder disc and an auger tube within which the auger turns for elevating the ice to a dispensing spout, the auger tube having such a cross-sectional configuration as to provide opposed, vertically extending abutment wall portions serving to facilitate the lifting of the ice in a uniform manner while at the same time preventing ice packing or jamming in the auger assembly during operation.

Yet another object is to provide an ice dispenser of the above nature including an agitator cooperative with the iceelevating auger for continuously feeding loosely piled ice to the auger feeder disc for elevating and dispensing until substantially all of the ice supplied to the ice bin has been dispensed.

Still another object is to provide an ice-dispensing device which will be simple in construction, compact, readily portable, attractive in appearance, economical in cost, and dependable, efficient and durable in operation.

Other objects features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote the corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. I illustrates, in oblique view as seen from the front, an ice dispenser embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ice dispenser taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. l in the direction of the arrows and illustrated in an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2 in the direction ofthe arrows;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the agitator and the agitator drive unit, shown separately in oblique view;

FIG. 6 is a partial oblique view, as seen from the top, of the ice dispenser, illustrating the power unit thereof tilted outwardly for disassembly of the ice agitating and elevating mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a crosls-sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows and illustrating constructional details of the auger ice lift assembly;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of portions of the auger ice lift assembly and the associated drive mechanism;

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 9 -9 of FIG. 8 in the direction of the arrows and illustrating mechanical details of theauger ice lift assembly and its associated drive and dispensing mechanism;

FIG. 10 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 9 in the direction of the arrows and illustrating how the auger is drivingly interconnected with the drive mechanism.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, numeral l0 in FIGS. l, 2 and 3 designates an improved ice dispenser embodying the invention, the same being comprised, generally, of a substantially rectangular ice bin 1l, a power unit l2 mounted at the upper end thereof and a auger ice lift assembly 14 driven by the power unit 12 and operative to elevate and dispense ice as is hereinafter described. The ice dispenser l0 also comprises, generally, an agitator drive unit I5 and an agitator 16 which, together, serve to transport cubed, crushed or cracked ice to an ice feeder disc at the lower end of the ice lift assembly auger to insure continuous feeding of ice through the dispenser, when operated, as long as such ice is supplied to the ice bin.

The ice bin l1 is substantially rectangular in shape, having a bottom framework comprising opposed side angle iron framework members 17 and 18 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) interjoined, as by welding, with a front angle iron framework member 19 and a back angle iron framework member 20. Secured against the underside of the bottom framework and secured in transverse relation along the front and back thereof are front and back wheel support plates 2l and 22, respectively. Swivel caster wheels 23 secured one each to the four ends of the support plates 2l and 22, together with push handle means hereinafter described, render the ice dispenser fully portable.

The ice bin 11 further comprises spaced, parallel outer side panel members 24 and 25, attached to and extending upwardly of respective side angle iron framework members 18 and 17 (see FIG. 3), and respective parallel front and back panel members 26 and 27 attached to and extending upwardly of respective front and back angle iron framework members 19 and 20 (see FIG. 2). As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, the outer panels 24, 25, 26 and 27 are secured together along their corners by outer vertical comer trim members 28.

The ice bin ll further comprises inner sidewall members 29 and 30 secured in spaced relation with respect to outer side panels 24 and 25, respectively, and inner front and inner rear wall/members 31 and 32, respectively, secured in spaced relation with respect to front and back panel members 26 and 27, respectively (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 4). The upper ends of the inner wall members 29, 30, 31 and 32 are inwardly offset, as indicated at 33 in FIGS. 2 and 3, to accommodate the inner flange of a U-shaped, inverted, peripheral trim member 34 welded or otherwise secured at the four corners to the upper ends of the vertical corner trim members 28. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, rivets 35 secure the upper end portions of the inner wall members 29, 30, 3l and 32 to the inner flange of the U-shaped, peripheral trim member 34. The spacing between the outer panel members 24, 25,` 26 and 27 and their respective inner wall members 29, 30, 31 and 32 is filled with insulation, as indicated at 36. A bottom peripheral bumper strip 37 is fixed around the outside of the ice bin l1 at the lower end thereof as by screws 38 extending into tapped openings in the angle iron framework members 17, 18, 19 and 20. The ice bin l1 further comprises a bottom panel 39 resting upon the wheel support plates 2l and 22, and a false bottom plate 40 disposed in spaced parallel relation thereabove, said false bottom plate preferably being integrally formed, by bending, with the inner sidewall members 29 and 30 (see FIG. 3). The bottom plate 40 is fitted near the rear end thereof with a drain fitting 4l extending through a drainage conduit 41a downwardly and rearwardly to a drain valve 42 for draining melted ice water. As partially illustrated in FIG. 2, a push-pull handle 43 is secured in spaced, parallel relation along the upper end of the rear panel member 27 by end brackets 44 (only one shown), the ends of said rodlike handle being fitted with bumper wheels 45.

The power unit l2 comprises a rectangular housing 46 having a bottom plate 47. As is best illustrated in FIG. 6, the rectangular bottom plate 47 has been secured to the underside thereof, as by welding, a pair of laterally spaced, parallel, angle iron bracket members 48 and 49. A pivot rod 50, journaled between the sides of the' ice bin 1l at rear upper end portions thereof and extending through the peripheral trim member 34, carries welded thereto, near opposed end portions thereof, one arm each of substantially right-angular bellcrank levers l and 52. The remaining arms of the bellcrank levers 5l and 52 are journaled to end portions of the angle iron bracket members 48, 49 as by bolts 53, 53. A rodlike handle 54 is welded or otherwise secured at one end to the pivot rod 50 in spaced relation with respect to the inside of the bellcrank lever 51, said handle, when turned upwardly, serving to turn the bellcrank levers 5l and 52 upwardly and forwardly, in unison therewith, for disassembly of the ice dispenser as is hereinafter more particularly described. Counteracting spring means is provided to facilitate and smoothen the outward and inward turning of the power unit l2 with respect to the pivot rod 50 upon disassembly and assembly of the device. To this end, a torque rod 55 is provided, said torque rod extending at one end through an opening provided near the inner end of the angle iron bracket member 49 and passing transversely along the underside of the rectangular bottom plate 47 to merge into a right-angular, rearwardly extending portion 56 extending along the inside of the angle iron bracket member 48 to terminate in a sidewardly outwardly extending terminal hook portion 57 engaged in an opening provided in the angle iron bracket member 48 near the rearwardly extending end thereof. The other end of the torque rod 55 is integrally formed with a rearwardly extending arm portion 58 merging into a downwardly extending arm portion 59 terminating in an upwardly extending terminal hook portion 60. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6, the arm portions 58 and 59 of the torque rod 55 extend through a guide slot provided by a U-shaped bracket 6l affixed against the inner sidewall member 30 of the ice bin 1l near the upper end thereof and to the front, said bracket having journaled at its upper end a guide wheel 62 along the underside of which the rearwardly and downwardly extending arm portions 58, 59 of the torque rod 55 ride during the opening and closing movements of power unit 12 with respect to the ice bin ll upon actuation of the rod handle 54. It will be understood that the torque rod 55 will be so prestressed with respect to the weight of the power unit l2 and auger ice lift assembly 14 as to provide appropriate reactive moment forces with respect to the pivot rod 50 to render such opening and closing of the power unit with respect to the ice bin substantially effortless.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 8, the power unit 12 further comprises an interior, upstanding support plate 63 having right-angularly turned, marginal, vertical side portions 63a for added rigidity. The lower end of the vertical support plate 63 is integrally formed, as by bending outwardly thereof` atthe bottom with a rectangular reinforcing plate 64 fixed against the upper surface of the bottom plate 47 as by corner bolts 65. An auger tube 66 extends upwardly vertically through a substantially central opening in the reinforcing plate 64 and is welded thereto along the outside so as to be rigidly affixed thereto. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the circular opening in the rectangular bottom plate 47 provides clearance for the passage therethrough of the auger tube 66. The upper end of the auger tube 66 is secured in substantially rigid relation with respect to the upstanding support plate 63 by means of bolts 68 extending between said support plate and opposed, outwardly extending lug plates 69, 69 welded to and extending outwardly of opposed side portions of said auger tube and secured in place by clamp nuts 70.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 9, the upper end of the auger tube 66 is cylindrical in shape and supports, in vertically spaced relation therein, a pair of upper and lower bearings 7l and 72 journaling a drive pin 73. The drive pin 73, at a position therealong between the bearings 7l and 72, carries a sprocket 74. The lower end of the drive pin 73 extends downwardly through the lower bearing 72 to terminate in a conical end portion 75. The drive pin 73 further comprises a cross pin 76 projecting at each end through a diametric opening just above the conical end portion 75 thereof, within which said pin is press fitted for retention in place.

As is best illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9, the auger tube 66 is deformed from circular or tubular cross-sectional configuration to provide diametrically opposed, vertically extending, radially directed sidewall offset portions 77, 78 extending from the lower end of said auger tube to a position somewhat short of the upper end thereof (see FIG. 9). As illustrated in FIG. 7, the vertical sidewall portions 77, 78 merge into offset, opposed, semicylindrical wall portions 79 and 80.

As is best illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the upper end of the auger tube 66 is provided at one side with a substantially rectangular ice discharge opening 81, the lower edge of which has welded thereto an outwardly and downwardly extending ice discharge ramp 82. Vertically extending brackets 83 and 84 welded to and extending outwardly of the auger tube 66 along each side of the discharge opening 81 pivotally journal at upper, outer end portions thereof, a semicylindrical cover plate 85. As illustrated in FIGS. l and 9, the ice discharge ramp 82 and the vertical brackets 83 and 84 supporting the pivotal cover plate 85 extend through a rectangular opening 86 in a vertical wallplate 87 which, together with a vertical wallplate 88, provide a rectangular recess 89 in the front of the rectangular power unit housing 46 at one side thereof. The chamber 89 is provided at the lower end with a shallow drain chamber 90 fitted with a perforate drain plate 91 to accommodate spillage. A drainpipe 92 leading from the drain chamber 90 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) conducts spillage water to the bottom of the ice bin 1l whereat it can drain off, together with melted ice water from the bin, through the drain valve 42. A top lid or cover 93, cut off at an angle over the ice dispenser chamber 89, encloses the upper end of the rectangular power unit housing 46.

The auger ice lift assembly 14 further comprises a removable auger 94, which is preferably formed by twisting an elongated plate of stainless steel. The upper end of the auger 94 has welded thereto a circular top plate 95 having a concentric circular opening 96 provided with diametrically opposed, rectangular slots 97, 97. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the upper end of the auger is also provided with an opening 98 for the freefitting reception of the conical end portion 75 of the drive pin 73. As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and l0, the auger 94 is removably assembled to the drive pin 73 so as to be rotatively driven thereby by inserting it into the auger tube 66 in such a manner that the conical end 75 and cross pin 76 of said drive pin fit through the circular opening 90 and opposed slots 97 of the top plate 95. In such position, the conical end 75 of the drive pin 73 will be freely received within the opening 98 in the upper end of the auger and, upon giving the auger a slight clockwise twist, the outer end portions of the cross pin 76 will be brought into abutment with opposed sidewall portions of the upper end of said auger for driving interconnection upon operation of the device, as is hereinafter more particularly described.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 7, the lower end ofthe auger 94 has concentrically welded or otherwise affixed thereto a circular auger disc 99 integrally formed upon the upper surface of which is a pair of diametrically opposed, upstanding, arcuate ribs 100, 101. The underside of the auger disc 99 is provided with a central recess 102 and a pair of symmetrically arranged, diametrically opposed rectangular recesses 103, 104, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

The agitator drive unit (see FIG. 5), is preferably fabricated of sheet stainless steel bent into shape to provide a rectangular bottom wall portion 106, upwardly and outwardly extending sidewall portions 107 and 108, an angularly upwardly and rearwardly extending bottom wall portion 109, and upwardly and outwardly extending sidewall portions 110,

' lll extending from said bottom wall portion 109. The bottom wall of the agitator drive unit 15 is formed with a circular depression or recess 112 the underside of which has affixed thereto a circular reinforcing plate 113. Secured within a central opening in the recess 112 and reinforcing plate 113 is a bearing member 114 carrying a rotatively journaled, circular bearing plate 115, (see also FIG. 2). The bearing plate 1 15 has integrally formed therewith an upwardly extending, centrally located indexing pin 116 and a pair of diametrically opposed index lugs 117 and 118, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Unitary with the indexing pin 116 and arranged at the underside of the reinforcing plate 113 is a crank member 119. A connector arm 120 in the form of a bent rod is pivotally journaled at one end to the crank 119, and is formed at its other end with a turned-up outer end portion 121 extending through an elongate slot 122 provided in the bottom wall portion 109 of the agitator drive 15 The underside of the bottom wall portion 109 along each side of the slot 122 is fitted with vspaced parallel angle brackets 123 and 124 defining therebetween space for passage of the outer end portion 121 of the connector rod 120. The inner end of the outer end portion 121 is fitted with a welded-in-place collar 125 which bears and slides against outer edge portions of the angle brackets 123 and 124 upon reciprocating motion of connector arm 120, as is hereinafter described. A washer 126 is placed over the outwardly projecting end of the outer end portion 121 to seat upon thebottom wall portion 109 of the agitator drive unit 15 The rear end of the bottom wall portion 109 is provided with an upwardly extending lift hook 127 facilitating manual removal of the agitator drive unit 15 upon disassembly. As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the agitator drive unit 15 is supported in assembled relation within the ice bin 11 by means of a yoke bracket 128 secured against the inner front wall member 31 of said ice bin as by rivets 129, and an angle bracket 105 welded or otherwise affixed in horizontal disposition against the inner rear wall member 32 of said ice bin (see FIG. 2). As is illustrated in FIG. 4, the yoke bracket is formed with an arcuate cutout 130 which accommodates the circular depression 112 in the support of the bottom wall portion 106 of the agitator drive unit 15. The inner front wall member 31 of the ice bin 11 also has secured to it, at a central position in spaced relation above the yoke bracket 128, an abutment bracket 131 which serves to limit the inward swinging motion of the auger ice lift assembly 14 at a vertically extending position upon assembly of the device, as is hereinbelow more particularly described.

The agitator 16 is of such complemental shape as to fit slidingly upon the agitator drive unit 15 and is also of bent metal plate construction, comprising a substantially rectangular bottom wall portion 132, opposed substantially rectangular mutually divergent sidewall portion 133 and 134 and substantially rectangular, forwardly extending sidewall portions 135 and 136. The bottom wall 132 of the agitator 16 has fixed thereto near the front edge and transversely centrally located, an upstanding, flat divider bar or post 137 buttressed by an angularly rearwardly extending support member 138. Affixed to the support member 138 is a resilient lock pin 139. The bottom wall 132 is further provided with a circular opening 140 for the passage therethrough of the upwardly extending end of the turned-up outer end portion 121 of the connector arm 120 upon assembly ofthe agitator 16 in seating engagement upon the agitator drive unit 15 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The outwardly projecting end of the end portion 121 is provided with a transverse bore 141 for the reception of an angularly bent outer end portion of the lock pin 139, which serves to maintain the agitator member 16 in assembled relation with respect to the agitator drive unit 15.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 7, the lower end of the auger tube 66 has welded or otherwise affixed thereto a pair of diametrically opposed abutment wings 142, 143, the outer ends of which, as illustrated in FIG. 7, are substantially coextensive with the diametrical extent of the auger disc 99.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, an electric drive motor 144 is affixed against the back of the upstanding support plate 63 of the power unit 12 as by bolts 145. The drive shaft 146 of the electric motor 144 extends upwardly through a bearing support plate 147 affixed to and extending horizontally from the upper end of the support plate 63 and carries at its outer end a sprocket 148. The drive chain 149 interconnects the drive sprocket 148 with the driven sprocket 74 of the auger drive pin 73, an opening 149a (see FIG. 9) being provided in the upper end of the auger tube 66 for passage of said drive chain.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 8, an arcuate abutment plate 150 is arranged below the ice discharge ramp cover plate 85 within the open rectangular chamber 89 at the front of the device. The abutment plate 150 is welded or otherwise affixed at the inside against the outer end of an angular lever arm 151 having a vertically downwardly extending portion journaled in a bracket 152 fixed to and extending outwardly of the upstanding support plate 63. The angular lever arm 151 is formed with a horizontal arm portion 153 operative to actuate a normally open electric switch 154, secured to said bracket 152 by pushing in upon the spring-pressed actuating plunger 155 of said switch. Electrical circuitry, not herein described, including the motor 144, the normally open switch 154 and an electric timer 156 secured at the upper end of the upstanding support plate 63, controls the energization of the drive motor 144 for a predetermined and adjustable interval of time sufficient to provide the amount of ice required each time the abutment plate 150 is pushed inwardly by the glass, pitcher or other container moved under the ice discharge ramp cover plate 85. The electrical circuitry also includes an override switch 157 having an actuating plunger extending outwardly through an opening in the vertical wallplate 87 of the rectangular chamber 89 for manual actuation permitting control of ice dispensing in instances when greateramounts of ice are required than those portions for which the device has been preset by the use of the timer 156. Inasmuch as the abovedescribed electrical control circuitry is well known in the art, further description is not deemed necessary.

As illustrated in FIG. l, the device is provided with a removable cover 158 having a handle 159, which cover can readily be removed for assembly and disassembly of the mechanism and for filling the ice bin with cubed, crushed or cracked ice when required.

As hereinabove described, disassembly of the ice dispenser mechanism is accomplished by first pulling up upon the handle 54 to elevate the auger ice lift assembly 14. As above described, the torque rod 55 operates to maintain the power unit and auger ice lift assembly in a somewhat inwardly inclined position, as illustrated in FIG. 6. Further pushing upon the handle 54 in the outer or forward position will move the auger ice lift assembly 14 completely outwardly of the ice bin 11, to a limit position determined by the hook portion 60 of the torque rod 55, whereat the auger disc 99 can be grasped and turned counterclockwise to disengage the auger 94 from the drive pin 73, to remove the auger assemblage from the interior of the auger tube 66. The agitator 16 and agitator drive unit 15 can then readily be disassembled by disengagement of the resilient lock pin 139 and withdrawal in reverse order from that described in their assemblage.

It will be noted that, due to the action of the bellcranklevers 51 and 52 pivotally connecting the power unit 12 with the ice bin 11, the auger ice lift assembly 14 will have a substantial vertical downward component of movementjust prior to seating in place ofthe power unit 12 upon the ice bin 1l in assembled relation, enabling the auger disc 99 to move down into interengagement with the indexing pin 116 and index lugs 117 and 118 of the bearing plate 115 associated with the crank 119. ln this connection, it is to be noted that the abutment bracket 131 further guides the auger ice lift assembly 14 in its vertical downward movement upon assembly of the mechanism.

ln operation it will be noted that the auger disc 99, rotatively driven at its upper end as hereinabove described, is drivingly interconnected at its lower end through the auger disc 99 to the crank 119 associated with the agitator drive unit l5. The crank 119, in turn, through connector arm 120, the outer end portion 121 of which passes upwardly through the circular opening 140 in the bottom wall 132 of the agitator 16, serves to reciprocably move said agitator upon operation of the auger 94. The back-and-forth movement of the agitator 16 not only facilitates gravitational movement of the ice in the direction of the auger disc 99 but, by virtue of the upstanding divider post member 137, also serves to engage choppingly with the ice mass to minimize the possibility of so-called bridging of ice fragments under adverse temperature and pressure conditions within the ice bin. Referring to FlG. 2, it will be noted that the lower end of the auger tube 66 extends somewhat short of the upper surface of the auger disc 99 to provide an entrance for the passage of the ice upwardly through said tube. As illustrated in FlG. 7, the opposed spiral ribs 100 and 101 in the auger disc 99, upon turning of the auger in the clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow in` FIGS. 4 and 7, serve to propel the ice inwardly for engagement by the auger 94, being assisted by the relatively fixed abutment wings 142 and 143. [n this connection, it will be noted, with reference to FIG. 2, that the abutment wings 142 and 143 extend somewhat short of the upper surface of the auger disc 99 to permit full cooperative operation of the auger disc ribs 100 and 101 in moving the ice into position for elevation by the rotating auger 94. ln its lifting movement within the auger tube 66, peripheral portions of the ice will come into abutting engagement with the opposed, interior, vertically extending sidewall portions 77, 78 of said auger tube, which promote substantially vertical sliding lifting of a substantial portion of the ice being elevated to the discharge ramp, while at the same time minimizing any tendency of the ice to jam, which would otherwise result in nonuniform dispensing.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A cubed, crushed or cracked ice dispenser comprising, in combination, an ice bin, rotative auger means for lifting ice from the interior of said ice bin for dispensing at a position above said ice bin, said auger means comprising an elongated auger and an auger tube within which said auger is rotatively journaled, a power unit having drive means operative to rotatively actuate said auger at one end thereof, an auger disc affixed to the lower end of said auger for rotation (and) in unison therewith, at least a portion of the lower end of said auger tube extending somewhat short of the lower end of said auger to provide an entrance to said auger tube above said auger disc, said auger disc including means for moving ice in said bin the direction of said entrance for elevation within said tube by said auger, the upper end of said auger tube having a discharge opening for the dispensing of ice, said auger tube being of such cross-sectional shape as to provide a pair of substantially radially directed wall portions extending vertically along substantially the full length of said auger tube, said radially extending wall portions being interjoined by a pair of opposed, mutually offset, semicylindrical wall portions integrally formed with said radially directed wall portions.

2. An ice dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said auger is in the form of a twisted elongated plate.

3. An ice dispenser as defined in claim 1 including agitator means cooperatively driven with said auger and operative to shake ice in said bin in the direction of said auger disc.

4. A cubed, crushed or cracked ice dispenser comprising, in combination, an ice bin, rotative auger means for lifting ice from the interior of said ice bin for dispensing at a position above said ice bin, said auger means comprising an elongated auger and an auger tube within which said auger is rotatively l journaled, a power unit having drive means operative to rotatively actuate said auger at one end thereof, an auger disc affixed to the lower end of said auger for rotation in unison therewith, at least a portion of the lower end of said auger tube extending somewhat short of the lower end of said auger to provide an entrance to said auger tube above said auger disc, said auger disc including means for moving ice in said bin in the direction of said entrance for elevation within said tube by said auger, the upper end of said auger tube having a discharge opening for the dispensing of ice, agitator means cooperatively driven with said auger and operative to shake ice in said bin in the direction of said auger disc, said agitator means comprising an agitator drive unit removably received in the bottom of said bin and having inclined bottom and sidewall portions extending downwardly in the direction of said auger disc, an agitator member having inclined bottom and sidewall portions complemental in shape to those of said agitator drive unit, said agitator member being removably received upon said agitator drive unit for sliding motion along the direction of inclination of said agitator drive unit, said agitator means including crank means drivingly interconnecting said drive unit with the lower end of said auger for reciprocatively moving said agitator member upon the rotation of said auger.

5. An ice dispenser as defined in claim 4, wherein said agitator drive member comprises an upstanding divider post operative to choppingly engage with ice in said ice bin to minimize any possibility of so-called ice-bridging.

A6. An ice dispenser as defined in claim 5, wherein said crank drive means comprises a bearing plate journaled in said agitator drive unit and having at its upper end indexing means for rotative interconnection with the underside of said auger disc, a crank member extending from the lower end of said bearing plate, a connector arm eccentrically journaled at one end with said crank member, said connector arm having an upturned outer end portion extending through an elongated slot in said bottom wall portion of said agitator drive unit and a circular opening in the bottom wall portion of said agitator member.

7. A cubed, crushed or cracked ice dispenser comprising, in combination, an ice bin, rotative auger means for lifting ice from the interior of said ice bin for dispensing at a position above said ice bin, said auger means comprising an elongated auger and an auger tube within which said auger is rotatively journaled, a power unit having drive means operative to rotatively actuate said auger at one end thereof, an auger disc affixed to the lower end of said auger for rotation in unison therewith, at least a portion of the lower end of said auger tube extending somewhat short of' the lower end of said auger to provide an entrance to said auger tube above said auger disc, said auger disc including means for moving ice in said bin in the direction of said entrance for elevation within said tube by said auger, the upper end of said auger tube having a discharge opening for the dispensing of ice, said power unit being arranged above said ice bin and wherein said drive means comprising an electric motor operative to drive said auger at the upper end thereof, said elongated auger being in the form of a twisted elongated plate, said auger tube being of such crosssectional shape as to provide a pair of substantially radially directed wall portions extending vertically along substantially the full length of said auger tube, said radially extending wall portions being interjoined by apair of opposed, mutually offset, semicylindrical wall portions integrally formed with said radially directed wall portions.

8. An ice dispenser as defined in claim 7, including agitator means cooperatively driven with said auger and operative to shake ice in said bin in the direction of said auger disc.

9. A cubed, crushed or cracked ice dispenser comprising, in combination, an ice bin, rotative auger means for lifting ice from the interior of saidiice bin` for dispensing at a position above said ice bin, said auger means comprising an elongated auger and an auger tube within which said auger is rotatively journaled, a power unit having drive means operative to rotatively actuate said auger at one end thereof, an auger disc affixed to the lower end of said auger for rotation in unison therewith, at least a portion of the lower end of said auger tube extending somewhat short of the lower end of said auger to provide an entrance to said auger tube above said auger disc, said auger disk including means disc moving ice in said bin in the direction of said entrance for elevation within said tube by said auger, the upper end of said auger tube having a discharge opening for the dispensing of ice, said power unit comprising a housing swingably journaled with respect to an upper end portion of said ice bin, said auger tube being relatively fixed to said power unit and extending outwardly of the underside thereof, said drive means comprising a drive pin journaled in the upper end of said auger tube, and releasable means for drivingly interconnecting said drive pin with the upper end of said auger.

l0. An ice dispenser as defined in claim 9, comprising prestressed torsion spring means providing a reactive force against free-swinging movement of said housing with respect to said ice bin.

11. Mechanism for elevating cubed, crushed, or cracked ice comprising, in combination, an auger, an auger tube, means rotatively journaling said auger coaxially in said auger tube, an auger disc affixed to the lower end of said auger tube to rotate in unison therewith, at least a portion of the lower end of said auger tube extending somewhat short ofthe lower end of said auger to provide an entrance to said auger above said auger disc, said auger disc including means for moving ice in the direction of said entrance for elevation within said tube by said auger, the upper end of said auger tube having a discharge opening for the dispensing of ice, said auger tube being of such cross-sectional shape as to provide a pair of opposed, substantially radiallydirected wall portions extending vertically along substantially the full length of said auger tube, said radially extending wall portions being interjoined by a pair of opposed, mutually offset, semicylindrical wall portions integrally formed with said radially directed wall portions.

12. An ice-lifting mechanism as defined in claim ll, wherein said auger disc ice-moving means comprises a plurality of arcuate ribs formed in the upper surface of said auger disc. 

1. A cubed, crushed or cracked ice dispenser comprising, in combination, an ice bin, rotative auger means for lifting ice from the interior of said ice bin for dispensing at a position above said ice bin, said auger means comprising an elongated auger and an auger tube within which said auger is rotatively journaled, a power unit having drive means operative to rotatively actuate said auger at one end thereof, an auger disc affixed to the lower end of said auger for rotation (and) in unison therewith, at least a portion of the lower end of said auger tube extending somewhat short of the lower end of said auger to provide an entrance to said auger tube above said auger disc, said auger disc including means for moving ice in said bin in the direction of said entrance for elevation within said tube by said auger, the upper end of said auger tube having a discharge opening for the dispensing of ice, said auger tube being of such cross-sectional shape as to provide a pair of substantially radially directed wall portions extending vertically along substantially the full length of said auger tube, said radially extending wall portions being interjoined by a pair of opposed, mutually offset, semicylindrical wall portions integrally formed with said radially directed wall portions.
 2. An ice dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said auger is in the form of a twisted elongated plate.
 3. An ice dispenser as defined in claim 1 including agitator means cooperatively driven with said auger and operative to shake ice in said bin in the direction of said auger disc.
 4. A cubed, crushed or cracked ice dispenser comprising, in combination, an ice bin, rotative auger means for lifting ice from the interior of said ice bin for dispensing at a position above said ice bin, said auger means comprising an elongated auger and an auger tube within which said auger is rotatively journaled, a power unit having drive means operative to rotatively actuate said auger at one end thereof, an auger disC affixed to the lower end of said auger for rotation in unison therewith, at least a portion of the lower end of said auger tube extending somewhat short of the lower end of said auger to provide an entrance to said auger tube above said auger disc, said auger disc including means for moving ice in said bin in the direction of said entrance for elevation within said tube by said auger, the upper end of said auger tube having a discharge opening for the dispensing of ice, agitator means cooperatively driven with said auger and operative to shake ice in said bin in the direction of said auger disc, said agitator means comprising an agitator drive unit removably received in the bottom of said bin and having inclined bottom and sidewall portions extending downwardly in the direction of said auger disc, an agitator member having inclined bottom and sidewall portions complemental in shape to those of said agitator drive unit, said agitator member being removably received upon said agitator drive unit for sliding motion along the direction of inclination of said agitator drive unit, said agitator means including crank means drivingly interconnecting said drive unit with the lower end of said auger for reciprocatively moving said agitator member upon the rotation of said auger.
 5. An ice dispenser as defined in claim 4, wherein said agitator drive member comprises an upstanding divider post operative to choppingly engage with ice in said ice bin to minimize any possibility of so-called ''''ice-bridging.''''
 6. An ice dispenser as defined in claim 5, wherein said crank drive means comprises a bearing plate journaled in said agitator drive unit and having at its upper end indexing means for rotative interconnection with the underside of said auger disc, a crank member extending from the lower end of said bearing plate, a connector arm eccentrically journaled at one end with said crank member, said connector arm having an upturned outer end portion extending through an elongated slot in said bottom wall portion of said agitator drive unit and a circular opening in the bottom wall portion of said agitator member.
 7. A cubed, crushed or cracked ice dispenser comprising, in combination, an ice bin, rotative auger means for lifting ice from the interior of said ice bin for dispensing at a position above said ice bin, said auger means comprising an elongated auger and an auger tube within which said auger is rotatively journaled, a power unit having drive means operative to rotatively actuate said auger at one end thereof, an auger disc affixed to the lower end of said auger for rotation in unison therewith, at least a portion of the lower end of said auger tube extending somewhat short of the lower end of said auger to provide an entrance to said auger tube above said auger disc, said auger disc including means for moving ice in said bin in the direction of said entrance for elevation within said tube by said auger, the upper end of said auger tube having a discharge opening for the dispensing of ice, said power unit being arranged above said ice bin and wherein said drive means comprising an electric motor operative to drive said auger at the upper end thereof, said elongated auger being in the form of a twisted elongated plate, said auger tube being of such cross-sectional shape as to provide a pair of substantially radially directed wall portions extending vertically along substantially the full length of said auger tube, said radially extending wall portions being interjoined by a pair of opposed, mutually offset, semicylindrical wall portions integrally formed with said radially directed wall portions.
 8. An ice dispenser as defined in claim 7, including agitator means cooperatively driven with said auger and operative to shake ice in said bin in the direction of said auger disc.
 9. A cubed, crushed or cracked ice dispenser comprising, in combination, an ice bin, rotative auger means for lifting ice from the interior of said ice bin for dispensing at a position above said Ice bin, said auger means comprising an elongated auger and an auger tube within which said auger is rotatively journaled, a power unit having drive means operative to rotatively actuate said auger at one end thereof, an auger disc affixed to the lower end of said auger for rotation in unison therewith, at least a portion of the lower end of said auger tube extending somewhat short of the lower end of said auger to provide an entrance to said auger tube above said auger disc, said auger disk including means disc moving ice in said bin in the direction of said entrance for elevation within said tube by said auger, the upper end of said auger tube having a discharge opening for the dispensing of ice, said power unit comprising a housing swingably journaled with respect to an upper end portion of said ice bin, said auger tube being relatively fixed to said power unit and extending outwardly of the underside thereof, said drive means comprising a drive pin journaled in the upper end of said auger tube, and releasable means for drivingly interconnecting said drive pin with the upper end of said auger.
 10. An ice dispenser as defined in claim 9, comprising prestressed torsion spring means providing a reactive force against free-swinging movement of said housing with respect to said ice bin.
 11. Mechanism for elevating cubed, crushed, or cracked ice comprising, in combination, an auger, an auger tube, means rotatively journaling said auger coaxially in said auger tube, drive means for rotating said auger in said auger tube, an auger disc affixed to the lower end of said auger tube to rotate in unison therewith, at least a portion of the lower end of said auger tube extending somewhat short of the lower end of said auger to provide an entrance to said auger above said auger disc, said auger disc including means for moving ice in the direction of said entrance for elevation within said tube by said auger, the upper end of said auger tube having a discharge opening for the dispensing of ice, said auger tube being of such cross-sectional shape as to provide a pair of opposed, substantially radially directed wall portions extending vertically along substantially the full length of said auger tube, said radially extending wall portions being interjoined by a pair of opposed, mutually offset, semicylindrical wall portions integrally formed with said radially directed wall portions.
 12. An ice-lifting mechanism as defined in claim 11, wherein said auger disc ice-moving means comprises a plurality of arcuate ribs formed in the upper surface of said auger disc. 